Propagating Fig Cuttings

Yeah i had no idea :sweat_smile: live and learn

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Does anyone have a tried and true recommendation for rooting the Coll de Dame varieties? I have had great luck rooting everything else, but the CCDs mold and rot without fail. I have tried heat mats, parafilming tops, etc. and diligently watering cautiously. Help!

Is Optisorb the cure? Or should I spend for an air layer? TIA

If you havenā€™t tried optisorb I highly recommend it. If moisture control is paramount, wash out the fines from the blue and gold bag (coarse) and put those in your tomato garden. Then water at normal intervals.

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I did have some problems with Grise. Now i donā€™t and they root fast and strong along with all the other cuttings.

I start by cleaning then lightly scoring 2 sides.

Then I put in a mason jar in water to the level I want roots. Put a bag over the mason jar and leave for about 10 days in a pretty dark room.

Then I take perlite and peat moss 50/50. I use a non organic fertilizer like Miracle Grow or Expert Gardener at 1/4 dose. Soak and wring out the medium.

Wrap tightly the top with Buddy tape.

Place your cutting in the mix. I use clear 33oz cups and cut the lids to cover the soil.
To keep humidity good for a week or so. Place in a clear tote.

Put a heating matt under a tote and keep lights away you want roots before shoots. You can keep the heat around 80 easily figs love heat. But soon you will need lights when they start leafing out. Donā€™t cover the tote let air flow to keep away molds.

With keeping organic medium and food out I donā€™t worry about rot or gnats. Start with good cuttings you should get close to 100% success.

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Thanks for your detailed explanation. I am fairly stubborn so I will try againā€¦and maybe again.

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Col de dame varieties are quite easy to root. Your cuttings may not have been healthy.

I had a weird smith cutting that took 6 months to root. It looked green and healthy but no roots or growth. Eventually it rooted before the end of summer.
Meanwhile its peer grew into a 3 gallon pot and filled it up with roots over the same period.

I was going to reply that col de dame will never ripen. Then I noticed you had moved!!

They donā€™t ripen here in the PNW? :face_with_peeking_eye: I saw CDD Noire ripening at one green world when i was there

They have a heated greenhouse

No, it was outside. They gave me cuttings from a plant outside and the figs were almost ripe just about a month ago :thinking:

In ground outside?

Yeah!

Well. I donā€™t know what to say!!
Iā€™ll reach out to Sam to find out more.

Yeah, all the cuttings they gave me were from trees outside, in ground.

Hunt
Golden Riverside
Petit Negra
Cdd Noire

They had another variety as well but i think i already had a cutting from someone else so i didnā€™t get it.